Excavator control power means.



No. 842,734. PATBNTED JAN. 29, 1907.

J. B. 'WBBBER, JR. BXCAVATOR CONTROL POWER MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28: 1906-.

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No. 842,734." PATENTED JAN. 29, 1907.

. J. B. WBBBER, JR. EXGAVATOR GONTROL'POWER MEANS.

AIPLIOATION FILED JULY 28, 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. WEBBER, JR, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGN OR TO THE VULOAN IRON WORKSCOMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

EXCAVATOR CONTROL POWER MEANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 29, 1 907.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B.WEBBER, Jr, a citizen of the United States,residing at T- ledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Excavator Control Power Means, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to control of a working member, and moreparticularly to convenient, easilyoperable, and effective powerconnecting means therefor. This invention has utility when adapted toexcavators, in which this connecting power means is sure in itsoperation, simple and compact in structure, comprising a minimum numberof parts.

Referring to the drawings as illustrative of an embodiment of theinvention, Figure 1 isa perspective view, diagrammatic, with partsbroken away, of an excavator or steamshovel, showing the connectionsfrom the driving mechanism to the working member. Fig. 2 is aperspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the power connection means,parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the opening or controlvalve. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the closing or automatic cut-off valve;and Fig. 5 is a plan view of the drum, drive-wheel, connecting-strapclutch, and power connection means.

The working or digging member 1 is carried by the boom 2, which. restson the turntable 3. The turn-table 3 is mounted on the car 4.. Flexibleconnecting means 5 extends from the working member or shovel 1 to thedrum 6 on the shaft 7. The support for shaft 7 on the car 4 is partlybroken away to permit of more clear showing of other features.

The clutch 8 serves as a connecting and disconnecting means between thedrum 6 and the driving mechanism 9. This drivewheel 9 is also mounted onthe shaft 7. The clutch 8 is controlled by power means operable axiallyof the shaft 7.

The hand-lever 10 is connected by linkage to reciprocate the controlelement 11. The element or valve-stem 11 engages the slidevalve 12,which has its under side recessed, as shown by broken lines 13. Theslide-valve 12 operates in the valve-chest 14 to control the admissionof motive fluid to the cylinder 15', which motive fluid actuates apiston to reciprocate piston-rod 1 6 in axial line with the shaft 19serves to tighten or loosen the strap of the clutch 8, and therebyconnects or disconnects the wheel 9 with the drum 6.

Pivoted near the cross-head on the pistonrod 16 is the link 20, whichhas connected to it at an intermediate point the valve-rod 21, whichactuates the slide-valve 22, having the diagonally-cut ports 23 and thecentral exhaust-port 24.

In operation the driving member 9 may be run and the working member 1 bedisconnected therefrom or connected thereto. The power means is sodelicate in its operation that the clutch may be partially set, therebypermitting of slight sliding between the clutch and drum and a resultingreduced speed of member 1. The control hand-lever 10 has no positivemechanical connection with the clutch 8. The easy movement of the lever10 serves to so move the valve 12 over the top of valve 22 as to permitmotive fluid to pass through ports 23 and move the piston-rod 16longitudinally of shaft 7. As the motive fluid is thus actuating clutch8 through link 20 valve 22 is being automatically moved to close theports 23. Accordingly the movement of the cut-off or automatic closingvalve 22 is proportional to the movement of the control or opening valve12, the movements of which latter valve may be accurately determined bythe hand-lever. The valve 22 is an automatic device to cut ofi thepower. The automatic action is such that through power means theoperator may by a single movement actuate the clutch either to engagingor releasing position. Any movement by the operator applies power. Thepower is always automatically cut off upon the release or engagementbeing effected. By placing cylinder 15 in line with shaft 7 a compactarrangement is possible with few parts. To permit placing the hand-lever10 in positionwith the other levers with a minimum of connections, thepower-admitting member or valve 12 is designed to be actuated at anangle to the power-outting-off member or valve 22 and cylinder 15. The Dor recessed portion 13 of the valve 12 serves to place in communicationwith the exhaustport 24 of the valve 22 either of the ports 23.

The idea of the invention herein disclosed is not to be limited by thedrawings and description to any greater extent than the ordinary meaningof the terms of the claims de mand. In other words, the elements set'forth in the claims are to be interpreted broadly, giving me theadvantage of equivalents in the protection of my idea.

What is claimed, and it is desired to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. An excavator having a digging member, driving mechanism andmanually'controlled power means to connect or disconnect the member andmechanism.

2. An excavator having a digging member, driving mechanism and powermeans to control the connection between the member and mechanism, saidmeans comprising an automatic device to cut off the power.

3. An excavator having a working member, driving mechanism andmanually-controlled fluid means affecting the connection between themember and mechanism.

4. An excavator having a working member, driving mechanism and automaticcut off power means affecting the connection between the member andmechanism.

5. An excavator having a shaft, driving and driven elements on saidshaft and power means operable axially of the shaft controlling theconnection between the elements.

6. An excavator having a shaft, driving and driven elements on saidshaft, power means axially of the shaft to connect and disconnect theelements and a control element operable at an angle to the shaft.

7. An excavator having a working mem ber and a mechanically-independentelement for controlling the member.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN B. WEBBER, JR.

Witnesses:

A. L. BECKER, GEO. E. KIRK.

